Provincial survey carried out prior to determining principal sources of sacred water for King’s coronation rite

national January 22, 2019 16:07

By The Nation

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A total of 107 water sources in 76 provinces have been surveyed for a careful selection process to determine the principal sources of sacred water to be used in the elaborate “Rachaphisek” coronation rite for King Maha Vajiralongkorn on May 4-6.

Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda on Turesday said he had instructed officials in the provinces to survey their 107 water sources in order to select the principal sources for sacred water and to carry out landscaping arrangements for the rite.

"Abhisek” sacred water will be collected from each selected source.

The process will follow the Thai ancient tradition, he said.

In coronation rites for King Rama I through to Rama IV, the water used in the purification bath of the King on the morning of coronation day was collected from six principal sources, in line with the Ayutthaya Kingdom’s tradition.

Later, the second coronation rite (after leaving monkhood) for King Rama V in 1873 added water from another five sources in India known as “Panjamahanathee” – the five ancient Indian rivers of the Ganges (Ganga), the Mahi, the Yamuna, the Sarayu and the Achiravati – bringing the number of water sources used in the coronation rites to 11.

King Rama VI’s first coronation rite used the same 11 water sources, and his second coronation rite used the “Abhisek” sacred water consecrated at 17 sites.

The coronation rites for King Rama VII and King Rama IX used sacred water anointed at 18 sites.